BNP today lambasted Finance Minister AMA Muhith for his rigid stance on excise duty on bank accounts and 15 percent uniform VAT, saying he is making a mockery over the issue.

“The government and its ministers are making a mockery with people over excise duty and 15 percent uniform VAT after losing their political sagacity,” BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed said.

Claiming that there is no existence of excise duty on bank accounts across the world, Rizvi said, “Tk 800 will be deducted if anyone keeps Tk one lakh in any bank. Service duty will also be added with this.”

He said the government has created legal loopholes in the national budget through imposing excise duty and increasing 15 percent uniform VAT which will badly affect the common people, the BNP leader said.

“The government has plunged into an utter corruption and its ministers have lost their political sagacity,” he added.